Paraguay, 2003

Two hundred years after the first cry of freedom in

Latin America, our peoples are propelled by new winds

of emancipation. A fresh generation of leaders has

taken up the old flags of our heroes to demand real

global interdependence through an economic order

inspired by solidarity and by the building of a lasting

peace.

I would like to take this opportunity to

congratulate the Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan,

for the commendable work that he has done to uphold

and promote the principles that were enshrined in the

Charter 58 years ago.

For too long, Latin America had been on the

margins of history. It had been reduced to playing the

part of providing inexpensive labour and raw materials

to more developed economies, while its most brilliant

minds were lured away and absorbed by large urban

markets. Our region has also fallen victim to

mercenaries, soldiers of fortune and heartless people

representing dehumanizing and destructive transnational

corporations that overthrew Governments, provoked

wars between friendly countries and squandered our

countries’ resources.

Nevertheless, we are not here to complain about

those ignominious days. Nor are we here to cling to the

glories of the past. On the contrary, we have come to

express our firm will to work together for a dignified

present and a secure future for those who are now

dying from hunger, thirst, cold and easily preventable

and treatable diseases. Our voices today arise from our

roots, cultures and traditions, and proclaim a Latin

America that is integrated into the world, with a fresh

sense of fraternity, to make the lives of our peoples

more humane and enriching.

We must seek a multipolar world in which

cultures enhance rather than confront one another and

regional production promotes peace and prosperity in

the world to save present and future generations from

the terrible scourge of new major conflicts. Let us

make a renewed commitment, without scepticism and

with the intrinsic dignity that God has bestowed on

every human being.

In Paraguay, a small but dignified country, we are

making a major effort at capacity-building with respect

to national and international communities. A sine qua

non is to revive production, attract investors back and

sell our products on world markets.

Although our peoples have suffered long years of

recession and deprivation because of the foreign debt

burden, my Government has managed to redirect public

resources towards education and to coordinate the

efforts of civil society and the State to democratize

young people’s access to the world of knowledge. Only

effective human capital, with ethical principles, will

enable us to survive and grow in a climate of

globalization. Towards that end, we fervently hope for

a globalization that involves not simply economics but

also justice, science, technology and development. Our

challenge is to achieve global progress.

I come from an island surrounded by land, as

Paraguay’s renowned writer Augusto Roa Bastos so

aptly described the country. But with the advent of

democracy, to the credit of the people’s self-sacrifice,

our country has restored its identity, memories and

dreams. We Paraguayans accept our geographical

disadvantage as an opportunity to be creative and

industrious, as our development requires. For this

reason, we appeal for international solidarity to help to

implement the plan of action of Almaty, which is

designed to overcome the limitations of landlocked

developing countries, including Paraguay.

We have a strong ethical belief in this historic

objective. The inequality that impoverishes most of the

world is immoral. There is not a trace of Christianity in

the lack of solidarity with the destitute. In that regard,

the individual must be treated as a whole person, so

that he may in turn bring well-being to his family, for

the sake of all society. If leaders do not provide a moral

example, it will not be possible to advance towards a

democracy that is embraced by the people and fosters

true participation in a society that is distinguished by

its moral capital, the essential basis of a humanistic and

humanizing economy. A world in crisis requires

humanism, not humanitarianism. The world seeks

solidarity, and not mere charity.

We must understand that the impoverishment of a

large share of humankind jeopardizes world balance. It

is true that many countries have become impoverished

not simply as a result of outside influences but also

because of corruption and impunity on the part of local

leaders. But it is equally true that without an ethical

belief in the international order and the strong will of

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leaders to praise God and renounce historical patterns

of greed of rich countries, the world that we leave to

our children will not be fit for living.

Unfortunately, while we are shaping a future

based on ideals and utopias in this hallowed chamber

of world peace, we have not figured out how to end

war, since in various parts of the world the arms race

continues, as does growing poverty. It bears repeating

that, as leaders of our respective countries, we must

cease speaking in terms of friends and enemies, which

has a weakening and destructive effect. We must use

that energy and those resources to ensure just social

development in economically less-developed countries.

Without pluralistic and equitable participation in

crucial international policy decisions discussed here in

our Organization and a commitment to multilateralism,

the United Nations and, in particular, the Security

Council, will inevitably fail in its noble objective of

maintaining peace in the world.

In this context, Paraguay supports the aspirations

of Latin America and other continents to be

represented in the Security Council, where the presence

of Brazil as a permanent member would fulfil the great

and legitimate interests of our region.

Paraguay would like to reiterate here its full

support for the efforts and aspirations of the Republic

of China on Taiwan to become a fully-fledged member

of the international community through the United

Nations. In this regard, we appeal to the principles of

universality contained in the Charter so that this long-

overdue and heartfelt desire of the sister Republic of

China on Taiwan may be fulfilled.

As I said some weeks ago in my own country —

and as I reaffirm here — the ethics of fraternity and

mutual respect must govern international relations

today if humanity is to make progress towards lasting

peace inspired by the rule of law and reason.

With the same vigour with which we advocate

worldwide peace, we condemn terrorism in all its

manifestations and sources. In Paraguay, we have

pledged — a pledge we are resolutely fulfilling — to

combat the breeding grounds of terrorism and its

financial support, drug trafficking. We shall not deviate

from that commitment. Likewise, we energetically

denounce the terrorist action against the United

Nations headquarters in Baghdad that occurred

yesterday and that of 19 August. We mourn the death

of outstanding United Nations staff members, including

the distinguished Brazilian and Latin American citizen,

Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations High

Commissioner for Human Rights. In that same line of

action, in Paraguay we are dismantling organized crime

and money-laundering, regardless of who promotes,

conceals or commits those crimes.

I reiterate that our country will no longer be a

bridge, corridor or end point for such criminal

operations. With the same energy with which we

combat crime and illegality, we reaffirm our

unwavering commitment to respecting human rights,

which is an increasingly important part of our domestic

and foreign policies, promoting full enjoyment of

public and individual freedoms for the peoples of the

world.

The fight for freedom, democracy, social equity

and world peace will be of no avail if we do not more

responsibly face the challenges for the preservation of

our environment. Let us seek the well-being of our

peoples today but not forget that our children will live

on this planet tomorrow. In Paraguay and Latin

America, we are determined to be the protagonists and

architects of a shared destiny of responsibility, justice

and equality.

Finally, may the new global order be more

human, supportive, responsible and participative, and

may its essential purpose be to promote development,

progress and the well-being of all the peoples of the

Earth in an environment that is truly more just, fair and

balanced. May God bless us and may we build together

the peace that our children and future generations need.